Bed or berth structure



v 4 Shem-s-Sheel 1 April 24, l1951 Filed oct. 22, 1945 April 24, 1951 S. F. REED BED OR\ BERTI-l STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 22, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 smw. RIwL,

April 24, 1951 s. F. REED BED 0R BERTH STRUCTURE 4 sheets-sheet 5 Filed Oct. 22, 1945 @umm April 24, 1951 s F, REED 2,550,599

' BED 0R BERTH STRUCTURE l Filed oct. 22, 1945 4 sheets-sheet 4 Patented Apr. 24, 1951 9- UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlc'f BED R BERTH STRUCTURE Stanley F. Reed, Washington, D. C., assigner, by mesne assignments, to Arnot & Company, Inc., a corporation of Maryland Application October 22, 1945, Serial No. 623,670

Y l 4 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved bed or berth structure involving upper and lower bunks provided with means whereby the bunks may be independently controlled for movement to and from an operative position in a simple, expeditious manner. l. `The primary object of the present invention is to mount the bunks separately and 4provide in that mounting a construction whereby each bunk is'completely balanced in its Vfull operation in either direction,` simplifying the bunk movement and through its balanced mounting providing for the minimum of exertion inmoving the bunk from an inoperative to a completely operative position and reversely with a substantial absence of more than a rminimum effort in such operation. A further object of the invention is to provide a simplev mechanism by which the bunk or either of them may be locked in an inoperative position aswell as in an operative position with a view to insuring that the bunk when so locked will remain in the chosen position against the possibility of independent movement until released.

c The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

,Figure l-is aside elevation of the improvement showing the upper and lower berths in operative position;

Figure 2 is asimilar view of the opposite side of the bed;

Figure 3 is a side elevation showing the lower berth in operative position and the upper berth in inoperative position;

Figure 4 is a detail view showing the latch for holding the berth in inoperative position; and

, Figure 5 is a detail diagrammatic perspective view showing the upper and lowerbed operating mechanism.

The improved construction involving the provision of upper and lower beds, includes spaced uprights l and 2 of U-form in cross section with the iianges 3 extending outwardly from each upright. The uprights are secured to an apropriate structure in any desired manner and are, of course, spaced apart to provide for an appropriate length-of bunk or berth between them.

The control mechanism for the operative beds while substantially in duplicate, will be separately described in connection with each bunk for a better understanding of the detail.

One of the uprights as l, is formedat a predetermined distance above the lower end with a slot 4, and angle strips 5 are secured to the uprightfcn each side of the slot to arrange the outstanding -anges of the angle strips as guides being duplicated both as to position and arrangement on the outer side of the other upright 2.

The upper bunk indicated at l which may be provided either as a bed proper. or a normally hollow pan in which the mattress and bedding may be later applied, is provided at each end on the Vupper mar-gin with a pin 8 at right angles to the longitudinal plane of the pan and of a length to extend through the slots 4 in the uprightsfl and 2, each pin 8 being provided with a roller 9 which travels between the guides 6 to facilitate movement of the pan. The pan is further supported by links l0 connected at their v`lower ends to the' upper edge of the pan at a predetermined distance from the roller 9, the upper end of the links being swingingly connected to brackets Il secured to the respective uprights.

The uprights I and 2 are connected by a shaft I2 rotatably supported in the uprights and extending outwardly7 beyond the same. Secured on the shaft are locking members I3 which are .mounted to move with the shaft and including fingers I5 extending at right angles to the shaft and pivote-ily provided at their terminals with depending members I6 terminating at their lower ends in latches Il, the depending members I6 op' ei-ating between guides I8 secured to the upright to insure the proper direction of movement of `such members in operation.

The pan proper 1,.' as shown in Fig. 5, is provided on its upper front free edge, preferably near at least one end, with keepers I9 to be engaged by the latchets I1 to hold the pan in an upright or inoperative position.

The shaft l2 at the outside of upright I is provided with a rigid lateral strap 2U to which' the operating mechanism is secured. This' operating mechanism includes a link 2l connected tothe strap and depending between the anges 3 of the upright I which is pivotally connected at 22 to a lower lever 23, which lever 23 is pivotally connected tothe upright intermediate its ends at 24. Between the pivots 24 and 22 the lower 'Y lever is providedwith a lateral abutment or block and 2 and entirely out of the way. In this position the pan 1 has swung on the link |D so that the pin 8 is at the bottom of the slot 4 and below the block 25, which block in moving the pan from an operative to an upright or inoperative position has been moved out of the path of the pin by pressure on the push rod 21. When it is desired to move the pan onto an operative or bed receiving position the push rod 21 is pressed to swing the lever 2| against the influence of a spring 2| to release the latches whereupon the pan may be moved downwardly into an operative position as shown in Figure l. As soon as the catches are released, the pressure on the push rod 21 may be released and as the pan is moved to the operative position the pin 8 rides up the slot 4, engages an inclined face of the block 25, moves the block laterally against the tension of the spring 2| and rides beyond the block. The block then returns` to blocking position and the pin 8 rests on the square surface 26 of thev block to prevent further downward movement of the pan 1 on the link ID.

The double bunk is for convenience designed to be used in connection with a conventional seat or sofa beneath the lower bunk which seat or sofa indicated at 29, is of Amore or less conventional structure including a frame 38 having seat cushion 3| and a cushion back32. The control mechanism for the lower Apan 33 is similar to that described in connection with pan 1 in which the shaft 34 extends between the uprights I and 2- `and is provided between the uprights with lateral arms 35 terminally provided with members 36 operating between guides 31 terminating in latches 38 to engage keepers 39 on the lower pan 33, asin the form previously described.

A push rod 40 for the control of the lower pan is connected through a slot connection with an arm 4| mounted on upright A lever 42 is pivotally connected at 43 to the push rod 4|) between the anges 3 of the upright said lever being vpivotally supported intermediate its ends at 44, which lever, influenced in movement in one direction by spring 45, is lormed at its lower end with a locking block 45 having a squared upper surface 41 overlying side flanges 48 defining the sides of slots 49 formed in the uprights and 2 as in the form just previously described.

Also as in the form previously described, the lower pan 33 is formed at the upper portion of thev inner end with pins 5U to pass through the slots 49 in each upright, each pin being provided with a roller 5| guides in the flanges 48 as in the form first described.

In use of the lower pan or bed with the conventional sofa, means are provided to properly adjust the back 32 when the pan is in operative or inoperative position. As illustrated more particularly in Figure 3, this back conventionally curved on the iro-nt surface and square on the rear surface is supported when in operative positionY on' the seat or sofa. The back 32', when turned down onto the seat cushion 3| must be slightly shifted in position to present itsv rear sur- 1"' a'ce 'at right angles to the uprights.

The lower pan 33 in addition to the support by the pin 59 and roller 5| is connected to the uprights and 2 by links 52 pivotally connected to the uprights at 53 and 'to the lower pan at 54.

Links 52 are connected by pins 55A with the ends of curved links 55, the opposite ends' of the curved links being connected at with the back 32 near what would be the lower end of the back when the latter isv in operative position, the: op-

posite end of the back 32, that is, the upper end when the back is in operative position is connected by pivoted links 58 to the bottom of the outer end of the berth or pan r33. In Figure 3 the pan is shown in withdrawn position with the latches 38 in the keepers 39 to hold the berth or pan in the upper or inoperative position. In this position of the parts as shown in Figure 3, the back 32 is in position to complete the sofa and inclined for comfort as is conventional.

When the bed or pan however, is swung to an operative position, the curved links 56 in their movement under the movement of the link 52 draws the lower end of the back 32 toward the uprights, and as the back 32 contacts with the seat 3| the pin connection 55 of the curved link causes the rear surface of the back 32 to assume a substantially horizontal position beneath the pan or berth 33. As the pan or berth swings upwardly to an inoperative position the curve and position of the link 56 moves the lower end of the back 32 to cause it to assume the inclined position when in use in completing the sofa.

As previously stated, the end of the pan or berth is mounted in both uprights through the use'of the pins 5U and rollers 5| and the rollers and pins moving in the slots 49. The push rod 48, is however, arranged to cooperate with but one upright as and when operated raises the latchesr 38 from the keepers 39 and releases the lower berth or pan 33. At this time the pins 5l] and rollers 5l are below the block 46 and as the bed or pan is moved down to an operative position the pins and rollers rise in the slots 49 and these elements in the upright engage an inclined surface 51 on the block 46 'and displaces the block against the influence of spring 45. In the final position of the lower pan or berth, it will be seen that the pin 41 occupies the position above and rests squarely upon the square surface of the block 45 thus locking the pan or berth against movement toward an inoperative position.

When the pan or berth is moved or intended to f be moved to an inoperative position the block 45 is displaced as a holding means for the pin 5i)l by the operative movement of the push rod 45, whereupon the pin 53 is free to move down the slot 49 as the pan or berth is raised to an inoperative position in which position it is locked by the latches 38.

'The improvement is' designed particularly for providing upper and lower berths or beds but it is obvious that either upper or lower berth may be used tothe exclusion of the other if desired or necessary. By this particular mounting of the pans or berths, it will be apparent that either or both are completely balanced in any position intermediate the operative and inoperative position', and further apparent that the control means for governing the locking and unlockingof the berths or pan is actuated by the simple movemen-t of a single push rod for each berth or pan.

rEhe berth or pan so called, is intended to cover any structure or form which will in itself serve as a bed or provide a means for receiving a mattress and covering from other sources.

what I claim as new is:

l. A movable berth including uprights formed with slots, a berth movable between the uprights, pins projecting from the berth and slidable in the slots to guide and limit the movement of the berth, a latch for cooperating with the berth to hold the latter in an' inoperative position between and vin line with the uprights, a lever pivoted on one of the uprights and formed with a block to underlie the pin and prevent movement of the berth in one direction relative to the uprights, means operatively connecting said latch and said lever, and manually operable means operatively connected with said lever for moving the block thereon out of the way of-the pin. carried by the berth to permit the pin to pass the block in its movement in the slot during operation of the berth from one position to another and simultaneously actuating said latch through said connecting means.

2. A movable berth including spaced uprights, a slot in each upright, a 'berth carrying pins slidable in the slots for movement of the berth from an operative to an inoperative position relative to the uprights, a latch cooperating` with the berth for securing the berth infan inoperative position between and in line with the uprights, a lever pivoted on one of Athe uprights and formed with a block projecting beyond one edge, said block having an inclined edge for engagement by the respective pin on the berth to displace the block from the path o1" the pin and permit the pin in the movement of the berth to rise above the up right, means biasing the lever to position the block in the path of the pin to prevent movement of the berth in one direction, means operatively connecting said latch and said lever, and manually operable means for shifting the lever to displace the block laterally of the path of the pin to permit free movement of the berth from an operative to an inoperative position and simultaneously to operate said latch through said connecting means.

3. In a conventional sofa including a seat and a back, the combination of spaced uprights at the ends of the sofa, slots in said upright, a berth tting between the uprights and carrying said back, pins carried by the ends of the berth and slidable in said slots to permit movement of the berth from an inoperative position between and in the plane of the uprights with the sofa back in operative position to an operative position at right angles to the uprights with the back overlying said seat and supported thereby, a lever pivoted to one upright and having a lateral block to overlie and bridge the slot in that upright, an inclined edge on said block and normally operable to swing the lever to move the block beyond the slot to permit passage of the pin, a supporting edge on said block on which the pin carried by the berth can bear to prevent movement of the berth from operative position with the back on said seat, andmanually operable means controlling said lever for permitting the pin to move downwardly through the slot in the movement of the berth to an inoperative position, the inclined edge of the block being engaged by the pin in the movement of the berth to an opera- 6 tive position and held in such operative position by the pin resting on the block, a latch for securing the berth in inoperative position, said manually operable means for operating the lever being connected to and operating the latch to release the berth from the locking means at will.

4. In a conventional sofa including a seat and a back, the combination of spaced uprights at the ends of the sofa, slots in said uprights, a berth tting between the uprights and carrying said back, pins carried by the ends of the berth and slidable in said slots to permit movement of the berth from an inoperative position between and in the plane of the uprights with the sofa back in operative position to an operative position at right angles to the uprights with the back overlying said seat and supported thereby, a lever pivoted to one upright and having a lateral block to overlie and bridge the slot' in that upright, an inclined edge on said block normally operable to swing the lever to move the block beyond the slot to permit passage of the pin, a supporting edge on said block on which the pin carried by the berth can bear to prevent movement of the berth from operative position with the back on said seat, and manually operable means controlling said lever for permitting the pin to move downwardly through the slot in the movement of the berth to an inoperative position, the inclined edge of the block being engaged by the pin in the movement of the berth to an operative position and held in such operative position by the pin resting on the block, links pivotally connecting the berth to the uprights and means movabl57 supporting the sofa back from said berth including secondary links connecting the sofa back with said berth links whereby in the movement of the berth from an inoperative to an operative position the back of the Sofa is moved down upon the seat of the sofa to support the berth in operative position.

STANLEY F. REED.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany June 11, 1940 France Oct. 15, 1934 Number Number 

